stop excessive planning

It was Amelia's 2nd birthday yesterday. I was busy cleaning and then celebrating with her, Andy, Kelly, Grandma Lin, and Tom; and didn't get my devotion time in. So this is yesterdays:

From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

devotion for September 17

"You will not find My peace by engaging in excessive planning: attempting to control what will happen to you in the future... Commit everything into My care. Turn from the path of planning to the path of peace."

I Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all you anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Psalm 37:5 Commit all your way to the LORD; trust Him and He will do this: (verse 6, your righteousness will shine and your cause of justice will be strong.)

*****

We can try to control our lives by planning out each moment of our lives, but this really is a waste of time. Sarah Young even goes as far as calling it a "commonly practiced form of unbelief." Only God knows our future. Our lives are full of the "unexpected", things that we had no idea were going to be part of the path on our journey.

This does not mean that we are to make no plans. Notice the word "excessive" in her first sentence. We are not to go through this life willy nilly, just waiting to see what will happen next. There are many things that we do need to plan for. There are big events in our lives that certainly need planning for: getting our drivers licence, weddings, babies births, careers, special holidays, etc. Then there are everyday things that have to be planned for: meetings, doctors appointments, children's events, etc.

The important idea today is that we keep in constant communion with God, letting Him guide our decisions about our future. We are not to get so caught up in planning the future or our day that we leave no time for God or the "God moments" that He has planned for us.

Today, let's ask God whether we have been guilty of trying to control our lives through excessive planning? Let's again commit our way to wherever God wants us to go

one thousand gifts

#157 the sweet smell of Allysum

#158 Amelia's 2nd birthday

#159 Tom making Amelia's growth ruler

#160 cherry chip cupcakes